Trip to Newport / Caerphilly 13-07-2023

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
47815	Newport BS	Caerphilly, Castle	50	Stagecoach South Wales
47906	Caerphilly, Castle	Newport BS	50	Stagecoach South Wales
BV22 VTN	Newport BS	Birmingham Coach Station	111	Edwards
BV23 ZXC	Birmingham Coach Station	Hanley BS	551	Selwyns

Today Matthew was in Newport and he was going out on the bus later on. Later on he was returning to the residential unit. Matthew got up around 06:50 and we got dressed and ready to go down for breakfast. We had full English breakfast and orange juice. After breakfast we returned to the hotel bag. After getting ready we set off onto foot down Corporation Road and we headed onto Coverack Road. We crossed over the Newport City Footbridge and went under the A4042 onto Friars Walk onto Market Square. We continued onto Market Square and we headed down to supercuts where Matthew used the toilet. When we had finished eating we waited for a bus to Caerphilly. Whilst we waited we saw Stagecoach South Wales 26199 on a #151 to Blackwood.

Stagecoach South Wales 26199 in Newport bus station

As short time later we saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Stagecoach South Wales 47815 on a #50 to Bargoed. We got on the bus and we booked MegaRider tickets at £4.60 before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off onto Queensway and we turned left onto Bridge Street. We ran forwards onto North Street and we turned left onto Havelock Street. We turned right into Stow Hill and we turned left onto Bassaleg Road. We turned left onto Oxford Road and we ran forwards into Bassaleg and we ran around through the housing estates before running into the A468 and we travelled through Lower Machen up to Trethomas. We went up the B4600 and we crossed over Caerphilly. At the top of the hill we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach South Wales 47815 before it continued towards Bargoed.

Stagecoach South Wales 47815 in Caerphilly

We continued up the B4263 and we headed into the Caerphilly Castle Gift Shop. We visited The visitors centre and Matthew needed to toilet. Once we let the bus go we walked up the B4600 towards Castle Court Shopping Centre and we stopped at the Pound Bakery. Matthew had a couple of gingerbread man and a bottle of Coke. We went outside and we saw Stagecoach South Wales 27691 on a #120 to Blaenrhondda.

Stagecoach South Wales 27691 in Caerphilly

Once we had finished we walked through B4600 and we saw Harris 26 on a C17 to Bargoed.

Harris 26 in Caerphilly

Also seen was Harris 29 on a H to Trethomas.

Harris 29 in Caerphilly

It pulled onto the stand and we saw that it was Stagecoach South Wales 47906 on a #50 to Newport. We got on the bus and we placed the Liverpool Plus Duo Day tickets under the scanner for the final time today before we sat down towards the front of the bus. We set off along the B4263 and left onto the A468 and we ran through Bedwas and and Trethomas. We continued through Lower Machen and we ran around through the housing estates before running into the A468 . We continued parrallel to the M4 into Duffryn and past Tredegar Park. We turned left onto the B4237 and we ran past Belle Vue Park. On the edge of the city centre we ran forwards onto Kingsway and we turned right onto Emlyn Street. We ran Northwards up the A4042 and we pulled into the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. We set off onto Market Street and we turned right onto High Street and we stopped at McDonalds. Matthew had a burger and fries washed down with a cup of Coke. Once we had finished we walked down High Street and we walked up Commercial Street and we crossed over the footbridge and went under the A4042. We continued along Corn Street and we visited a pub and Matthew had a glass of Coke. Matthew went to the toilet. Afterwards we walked back onto Corn Street and we walked aroubd to Newport Market. We visited The Cheesecake Guy and Matthew had a biscoff cheesecake in a jar and a glass of Coke. Afterwards Matthew used the toilet. We still had some time to kill before the coach was due so we went for a walk. We headed Southwards down the A4042 near to the river. We saw Newport bus 439 running out of service.

Newport bus 439 in Newport bus station

We headed back to the bus station and we waited for the coach back North. As short time later we saw it was Edwards BN64 FKZ.

Edwards BN64 FKZ in Newport bus station

A short time later the bus appeared and it was Edwards BV22 VTN on a #111 to Birmingham.

Edwards BV22 VTN in Newport bus station

We got on the coach after putting the cases in the luggage compartent and we sat down. We set off Northwards up the A4042. We hoined the Eastbound M4 and we came off at juntion 24 before heading North Eastwards up the A449. We ran for about 12 miles up to Raglan and we joined the Eastbound A40. We ran through Monmouth and to the North of Ross-on-Wye before we joined the M50. We ran Eastwards to the other end of the M50 before joining the Northbound M5. We ran Northwards through Gloucestershire and Worcestershire and we came off the M5 at junction 3. We ran Northwards up the Quinton Expressway up to Quinton Island and we joined the Eastbound A456. At Fiveway we tuned right onto the A4540. We crossed the A38 before turning left onto Sherlock Street. We ran forwards onto Barfors Street and we entered Digbeth coach station where we got up and got off the coach. Once of the coach we found a local chip shop and Matthew had sausage chips and gravy washed down with a can of Coke. Matthew used the toilet and afterwards we waited for the coach back to Stoke. A short time later the coach appeared on stand and it was Selwyns BV23 ZXC on a #550 to Liverpool.

Selwyns BV23 ZXC in Birmingham

We got on the coach after putting the cases in the luggage compartemtn and we sat down. We set off our of the coach station and we ran along the B4100 onto the A47. We joined the Northbound A4540 before joining the Northbound A38. We re-joined the motorway and we continued up through Staffordshire. We ran North to junction 15 where we cam off onto the A500. At the junction of City Road we saw Copeland's Tours new coach MIB 783 about turn right onto City Road. We continued along the A500 to the Stoke Road junction and we turned right onto Stoke Road. We went under the railway line and up the hill through Shelton and forwards onto Snow Hill We ran under the railway line and up through Shelton. We ran up Broad Street and we turned right onto the anti-clockwise ring road. We turned left onto Bethesda Street and right onto John Street. We climbed the hill and up into the bus station. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew visited the toilet. We crossed over Lichfield Street. We called for a Lucky Seven taxi. We got in the taxi and we set off down Lichfield Street and over the ring road. We ran down to joiners Square and we went over the roundabout onto Victoria Road past Adsa and the B&M. We turned right onto Manor Street and we turned right onto City Road and we ran down the hill to Smithpool Road. We turned left and left again onto Temple Street and back to the residential unit. Matthew went up to his room and chilled out on his computer. Later on Matthew had a bath and then had toast for supper. He then chilled out in his room until bedtime around 23:00... Mark.

Trip to Newport / Cardiff 12-07-2023

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
317	Newport BS	Cardiff, Stop HF	30	Cardiff Bus
735	Grangetown, Pentre Street	Cardiff Bay Mermaid Quay	8	Cardiff Bus
768	Cardiff Bay, Millennium Centre	Cardiff, Philharmonic JP	6	Cardiff Bus
419	Cardiff, Churchill Way HM	St Mellons, Willowdene Way	44	Cardiff Bus
417	Old St Mellons, Wern Fawr Lane	Newport BS	30	Newport Bus

Today was the second day of the short break in Newport. Research for today consisted of looking up the various day tickets for the local operators and checking the weather. Matthew woke up around 07:00 and had toast for breakfast. A little later on he had a glass of Coke. After getting ready we set off onto foot down Corporation Road and we headed onto George Street Bridge onto the A4042. We went into the bus station and we had a look around to see what we could catch. The plan was to go to Cardiff. Whilst we waited we saw Newport bus 309 on a #73 to Chepstow.

Newport bus 309 in Newport bus station

Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards waited for the bus. A short time later we saw it was Cardiff Bus 317 on a #30 to Cardiff. We got on the bus and we booked a Network Rider day tickets £9 each before we went upstairs. The top deck was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Cardiff Bus 317.

Inside Cardiff Bus 317

We set off out off the bus station and we headed Southwards down the A4042. We turned right onto Emlyn Street and we ran forwards onto Kingsway. We turned right and we headed South Westwards down the B4237. We passed the hospital and Bell Vue Park and we headed out of town. We crossed the Ebbw River and we headed Westwards along the A48 past Tredegar Park. The road turned South Westwards and we ran for a few miles alongside the A48(M) before going forwards onto the B4487. We ran through St Mellons and Rumney and we crossed over the Rhymney River and we ran forwards onto the A4161. We continued into Cardiff past the hospital and we turned left onto Guilford Street. We ran past Cardiff Queen Street station and we turned left onto Churchill Way. We turned right onto the A4160 and we stopped outside of the Unison office where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took a picture of Cardiff Bus 317 before it went off out off service.

Cardiff Bus 317 in Cardiff

Once off the bus we set off towards the new interchange outside of the railway station. We walked past the Vue cinema and we saw Cardiff Bus 147 on a #8 to Cardiff Bay.

Cardiff Bus 147 in Cardiff

We crossed over the river and we walked along Tudor Street. We turned left onto Clair Road and we headed Southwards. We went under the railway line and we walked for about 1/4 mile to a bus stop. We waited for a Southbound bus. A short time later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Cardiff Bus 735 on a #8 to Cardiff Bay.

Cardiff Bus 735 in Grangetown

We got on the bus and we flashed the Network Rider day ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off Southwards along Clare Road and at the 6 way juntion we veered slight left onto Corporation Road. We joined the A4119 and we crossed over the river Taff. We turned right onto Adelaide Street and we turned left onto Stuart Street. We arrived at Mermaid Quay and we got up and got off the bus. Once off bus we waled towards the quayside and we had a walk around. We went to a cafe and Matthew had a burger washed down with a coke. Afterwards we stopped for some ice cream and we headed up Bute Street and we headed to the bus stop by the Millenium centre. We waited for a bus towards Cardiff. A short time later we saw one approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Cardiff Bus 768 on a #6 to Cardiff.

Cardiff Bus 768 in Cardiff Bay

We got on the bus and we flashed the Network Rider day ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off onto the Northbound A470 and we headed Northwards into Cardiff city centre. We turned left onto the A4160 and we turned right onto St Mary Street. We ran under the railway line and we crossed over Penarth Road before we got up and got off the bus. Behind us we saw Stagecoach South Wales 26102 on a #122 service to Tonypandy.

Stagecoach South Wales 26102 in Cardiff

We set off on foot along Sy Mary Street and we continued onto the High Street. At the end of the high Street we could see Cardiff Castle. We stopped to use the toilet before we headed down to Churchill Way to wait for a #44 to St Mellon. On the way we saw Cardiff Bus 351 on an inbound #52 service from Cyncoed.

Cardiff Bus 351 in Cardiff

We arrived at Churchill Way and we waited for our bus. Whilst we waited we saw Cardiff Bus 306 on a #11 to Pensarn Green.

Cardiff Bus 306 in Cardiff

A short time later we saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Cardiff Bus 419 on a #44 to St Mellons.

Cardiff Bus 419 in Cardiff

We got on the bus and we flashed the Network Rider day ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Churchill Way and we turned right onto North Edward Street. We turned left onto station Terrace and we turned right onto the A4161. We headed Eastwards out of the town and we crossed over the river Rhymney. We turned right onto New Road and we continued Eastwards. We continued onto Greenway Road crossing over the B5239 and we headed Northwards. We turned right onto Trowbridge Road and we headed into a housing estate. We turned left onto Aberdaron Road and right onto Glan-Y-Mor Road. We turned left onto Brymbala Way and left onto Hendre Road. We turned right onto Tresigin Road and left onto Crickhowell Road. We turned left onto Willowbrook Drive we we headed clockwise around a massive housing estate. We turned right onto Crickhowell Road. andn we ran throu the middle of the estate. We turned left onto Willowbrook Drive and we ran anti-clockwise around the estate. When we got to Crumlin Fields we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Cardiff Bus 419 as it ran back towards Cardiff.

Cardiff Bus 419 in St Mellons

We set off on foot across to the main road to catch a #30 back to Newport. We headed Westwards along Willowbrook Drive and we crossed over the road and went into the park. We walked through the park onto Vaendre Lane and onto the B4487. We crossed over the road and we waited at the Eastbound bus stop. A short time later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Newport Bus 417 on a #30 to Newport.

Newport Bus 417 in St Mellons

We got on the bus and we flashed the Network Rider day tickets to the driver for the final time today before we went upstairs and sat down. We set off North Eastwards up the B4487 and at the roundabout we ran forwards onto the A48. We ran parrallel to the A48(M) past St Mellons golf course and through Castleton. We continued parrallel to the M4 into Duffryn and past Tredegar Park. We turned left onto the B4237 and we ran past Belle Vue Park. On the edge of the city centre we ran forwards onto Kingsway and we turned right onto Emlyn Street. We ran Northwards up the A4042 and we pulled into the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we visited Newport Market and Matthew went to the toilet. When we had finished we walked Southwards alongside the river Usk and we crossed over the river on George Street bridge. We turned right onto Corporation Street and we stopped at the apparment. We chilled out at the appartment and Matthew wrote some of his Blog and checked e-mails. For tea Matthew had a burger and a cup of Coke. Later on Matthew went out. We walked into town and we visited the shopping centre. We visited a pub and Matthew had a glass of Coke. Matthew went to the toilet. Afterwards we walked back out of town over the river and onto Corporation Street and back to the apartment. Matthew chilled out and used his computer before going to bed at 00:00... Mark